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Local Dairy says Yes to Modern Apprenticeships

Local business, Yester Farm Dairies based at Gifford, East Lothian has seen three of its staff successfully complete their SVQ Level 2 (SCQF Level 5) in Dairy Skills as part of a training programme supported by Skills Development Scotland in conjunction with Scottish Bakers.

Nic Ban, Carol Wakefield and Dale Walmsley all completed their qualification this week just in time to celebrate Scottish Apprenticeship Week. Iain Gray MSP visited Yester Farm Dairies to help promote Modern Apprenticeships in Scotland and to congratulate staff on their achievement.

The SVQ is designed for staff wishing to enhance their skills and to gain formal recognition for the job they do so was ideally suited to the trio who have all recently been promoted within the company. Nic and Dale have been appointed Team Leaders in the milk and cheese plants respectively and Carol became as trainee cheesemaker in October, having started with the firm as a packer just a year ago.

Director of Yester, Mrs Jackie McCreery said “It has been very worthwhile for us to put Nic, Carol and Dale through their SVQ training. Not only does it enhance their skills, but it is great to see our people progressing and being proud of what they have achieved. The training took place on site so they were able to learn within their own working environment and that’s so much more beneficial than purely classroom based learning. This qualification is fully funded by Skills Development Scotland and we are very grateful for their support as well as that of Scottish Bakers who provided the Training Adviser.”